West Loop to Garfield Park

Who's on the
27th Ward ballot?

The alderman was picked by the mayor, not by us. In February 2027 we finally get a vote. We haven't found anyone else running yet.

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Days left to file petitions Filing window: October 19 to 26, 2026.

How we got here

Walter Burnett Jr. was alderman for 30 years. He stepped down in July 2025. Mayor Brandon Johnson named his son, Walter Redmond Burnett, to take the seat, and the City Council confirmed him unanimously on September 25, 2025 (WTTW).

That is how Chicago fills a vacancy. Nobody in the ward voted on it, and Chicago has no way to recall an alderman. The next election is the first time voters get a say, and an election with one name on it is just a formality.

The dates

Petitions circulating since
July 28, 2026
File with the Board of Elections
Opens 9 a.m. Oct 19
Closes 5 p.m. Oct 26
Challenges to petitions
Oct 27 to Nov 2, 2026
Election
Feb 23, 2027
Runoff, if no one gets 50%
April 6, 2027

Source: Chicago Board of Elections. Check every date there before you act on it.

Ballot order is decided by lottery. Everyone in line when filing opens at 9 a.m. on October 19, and everyone in line at the 5 p.m. October 26 deadline, is entered in a drawing for ballot position (WTTW).

What it takes to get on the ballot

  1. Signatures473 registered voters in the ward, at minimum. Campaigns that mean it collect about three times that, because opponents file challenges (WTTW).
  2. PaperworkA Statement of Financial Interests with the Chicago Board of Ethics within five days of qualifying, plus a Statement of Economic Interests with the Cook County Clerk (candidate guide).
  3. MoneyYou only have to form a political committee if you raise or spend more than $5,000 in 12 months (State Board of Elections). We found no filing fee. Confirm that with the Board of Elections.
  4. EligibilityCheck residency and voter registration rules with the Board of Elections before you start collecting.

Who has looked at this seat before

When the seat opened in 2025, seven people applied for the appointment (Garfield Park Community Council). The mayor picked one. The other six were:

None of them has said they are running in 2027, and we are not asking them to.

Thinking about it?

If you live in the ward and want to run, or you'd carry a clipboard for someone who does, write to us. We can't endorse anybody. We can send you the filing rules and a petition checklist.

Write to us

contact@27thwardballot.org